Eight plastic items marked for elimination from shelves by end of 2020

Disposable plastic cutlery, polystyrene packaging and plastic cotton buds and stirrers are among eight items that should be eliminated by the end of 2020, according to a report.
The list, also including “oxo-degradables” which break down to create microplastics, plastic straws, disposable plastic plates and bowls and PVC packaging, should be removed from shelves by the 2020 deadline by the dozens of companies signed up to the UK Plastics Pact, waste reduction body Wrap said.
Eight problem plastics to be eliminated by #UKPlasticsPact members before the end of 2020. And that’s just the beginning. We are investigating many more plastics changing how we avoid, make, use, reuse and recycle them. https://t.co/7SWC8pnsF8
— WRAP (@WRAP_UK) June 25, 2019
On the list
The eight for elimination are accompanied by a second list of 19 items to be “actively investigated” by pact members resulting in either avoidance, re-use, re-design or recycling or composting by 2025.
Read on...
The list includes plastic bags, plastic film packaging, multi-pack rings for canned drinks, vegetable and fruit net bags, secondary wrapping around multi-packs and PVC cling film.
Supermarket shelves will soon begin to look a lot different as #UKPlasticsPact members take action on problematic or unnecessary single-use plastics changing how we avoid, make, use, reuse and recycle them. https://t.co/vDIRlVTgrr
— WRAP (@WRAP_UK) June 25, 2019
Plastic bottle tops and caps, single-use drinks bottles, non-recyclable coloured plastics, fruit and vegetable punnets, internal plastic trays such as those used in premium biscuits and single-use plastic cups and lids are also on the list, as are teabags, which can contain or be made from non-degradable plastic and contaminate compost.
Wrap director Peter Maddox said: “We know that more people than ever are concerned about the impact of plastics. The fundamental way industry can support this public desire is by addressing the issues that lead to plastic packaging being problematic.
“So, for every item of packaging, we need to consider whether plastic is the right material choice, or indeed if packaging is required at all.
“In many cases, plastic may be the best material choice from an environmental perspective. In these cases, we need to ensure that the plastic can be and is recycled. The items listed today are priorities for UK Plastics Pact members, and the onus is on those members to implement changes, urgently.”
Government action
Wrap said its approach anticipated the UK Government’s ban on straws, drink stirrers and cotton buds and the European Union’s Single Use Plastic Directive, which additionally targets polystyrene food containers and single-use plastic cutlery and plates.
Under the pact, the businesses have also agreed targets to make 100% of their plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable and to ensure 70% is effectively recycled or composted.
Members, which include major food and drink brands, supermarkets, manufacturers, retailers and plastic re-processors, will also ensure that there is an average 30% recycled content across plastic packaging by 2025.
Wrap, which is leading the pact, said the businesses involved are responsible for more than 80% of the plastic packaging on products sold through British supermarkets.
In addition, 15 other organisations, including the British Retail Consortium and the Food and Drink Federation, have signed up to support the targets.
If we’re going to bring about the change that our planet needs, we’re going to need to make our voices heard. Our supermarkets always say that they value our feedback, so let’s take them up on it! Hi supermarkets, this is #OURPLASTICFEEDBACK! #WarOnPlastic pic.twitter.com/8OluVSePww
— Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (@HughFW) June 24, 2019
Consumers
The report comes as consumers were urged to send plastic packaging back to supermarkets in the final episode of BBC One’s three-part series War On Plastic.
Presenters Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Anita Rani called for shoppers to return the plastic over the next seven days after marking it with #OurPlasticFeedback.
Poppy from Newbury said: “I watched the show last night and wanted to be involved.
“I tweeted a picture of our weeks worth of plastic and Hugh replied asking if I could do a video when I took it back, so I did.
“I did Ocean Science at university, so it’s an issue that’s important to me.
“I also try my best at not buying unnecessary plastic, but there is so much of it in supermarkets that it is unavoidable when you work 9am to 5pm and don’t have the time to go to refill shops or local food markets which have less plastic.”
Seriously Tesco! Peeled potatoes in a plastic bag?! Please, please, please reduce the amount of plastic wrapped products for the sake of our planet 🌍 @HughFW @itsanitarani #OurPlasticFeedback #WarOnPlastic pic.twitter.com/Jlwh5f2rrp
— Morven Clements (@morven_96) June 24, 2019
Morven Clements from Glasgow said: “I’m going to be returning plastic throughout this week after watching War on Plastic last night and fingers crossed there is a change.”
We need your help to keep speaking the truth
Every story that you have come to us with; each injustice you have asked us to investigate; every campaign we have fought; each of your unheard voices we amplified; we do this for you. We are making a difference on your behalf.
Our fight is your fight. You’ve supported our collective struggle every time you gave us a like; and every time you shared our work across social media. Now we need you to support us with a monthly donation.
We have published nearly 2,000 articles and over 50 films in 2021. And we want to do this and more in 2022 but we don’t have enough money to go on at this pace. So, if you value our work and want us to continue then please join us and be part of The Canary family.
In return, you get:
* Advert free reading experience
* Quarterly group video call with the Editor-in-Chief
* Behind the scenes monthly e-newsletter
* 20% discount in our shop
Almost all of our spending goes to the people who make The Canary’s content. So your contribution directly supports our writers and enables us to continue to do what we do: speaking truth, powered by you. We have weathered many attempts to shut us down and silence our vital opposition to an increasingly fascist government and right-wing mainstream media.
With your help we can continue:
* Holding political and state power to account
* Advocating for the people the system marginalises
* Being a media outlet that upholds the highest standards
* Campaigning on the issues others won’t
* Putting your lives central to everything we do
We are a drop of truth in an ocean of deceit. But we can’t do this without your support. So please, can you help us continue the fight?
-
Show Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Join the conversationPlease read our comment moderation policy here.